Doug Myers: No light reading on council

Being a City Council member apparently involves the three R’s — reading, reading and reading even more.

“If you want to serve on the City Council, you better like to read,” Mayor Norm Archibald told those on hand for Thursday’s City Council meeting.

To make his point, Archibald held up three comprehensive, thick documents — the just released Community Survey, the five-year Capital Improvements Program and the proposed Land Development Code.

Zzzzzzzzz

Pardon me. Did I snore?

COUNTING HEADS

Mr. Mayor has been touting the merits and importance of Abilenians filling out their U.S. Census paperwork and mailing them back.

He continues to tout the importance of everyone being counted, noting how businesses use the information when deciding where to locate and how the census directly affects the allocation of more than $400 billion in federal funding to local and state governments each year, among other things.

And he — well, his son — is putting his money where his mouth is.

“We’ll at least have one more on there that wasn’t going to be there before,” Archibald said, referring to grandson Hudson James Archibald, who was born March 16 at Hendrick Medical Center to Bryan and Brooke Archibald.

Big brother, 3-year-old Hunter Gregory Archibald, also is being included in the 2010 Census count.

“Yes they made the Census Count for Abilene,” Archibald said.

Wondering if they’ll be big talkers like grandpa?

Uh, probably not.

HOOPS, ABILENE STYLE

Got game?

Then you should come and play in this weekend’s 3-on-3 basketball tournament in the Buffalo Wild Wings parking lot at 4401 Ridgemont Drive.

Haven’t registered yet?

No problem. The registration deadline has been extended to the day of the tournament, city spokeswoman Lenka Wright said.

Registration will get under way at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Play will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday outside Buffalo Wild Wings.

Sponsored by the city, Buffalo Wild Wings and First National Bank of Baird, the event will cost you more than physically. You’ll need to put up $75 per team. Each team may have up to five players. Men’s and women’s brackets will be formed for four age groups: high school (15-18), college (19-25), adult (26-35) and adult (over 35).

Let’s just hope the wind calms down. Or making a basket could become a true art form.

RUN, NORM, RUN

Quick note: Mayor’s 5K Run/Walk/Wheel event is scheduled for two weeks from Saturday. The April 10 event, led by Mr. Mayor, will begin and end at the Civic Center. Racers will be routed through downtown.